SAN DIEGO, Aug. 11, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) combat-proven RQ-4A Global Hawk unmanned aerial reconnaissance system was honored Aug. 8 with the dedication of a full-scale model of the unmanned air vehicle (UAV) at the U.S. Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio.
Global Hawk is a high-altitude, long-endurance system that provides near real-time intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance information to battlefield commanders day or night and in all-weather conditions. Northrop Grumman's Integrated Systems sector designed and builds Global Hawk under contract to the Air Force's Aeronautical Systems Center, Dayton.
"It's very fitting that the first full-scale model of the RQ-4A Global Hawk reside in the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base," said Carl O. Johnson, Northrop Grumman vice president and Global Hawk program manager, during the dedication ceremony. "Not only is this facility the world's largest military aviation museum but the base is home to the Air Force's Aeronautical Systems Center, our partner in developing Global Hawk.
"Northrop Grumman is extremely proud to have this vital, cutting-edge combat capability represented in the Air Force Museum. It reinforces the company's legacy of excellence in unmanned systems and the Air Force's leadership in achieving aviation supremacy."
Although Global Hawk is still in engineering and manufacturing development, and low-rate initial production, it was successfully deployed by the Air Force for Operations Enduring Freedom, Southern Watch and Iraqi Freedom. Since its first flight in 1998, Global Hawk has logged more than 3,000 flight hours, more than half of them during operational missions.
Operating autonomously from takeoff to landing, Global Hawk flies at altitudes up to 65,000 feet for more than 35 hours with a range of 13,500 nautical miles. Using its synthetic aperture radar and electro-optical and infrared sensors, the RQ-4A Global Hawk provides high-quality reconnaissance imagery even in adverse weather conditions, as demonstrated during sandstorms in Iraq. Its high altitude and long endurance allow it to conduct surveillance over an area equal to the size of Illinois in just 24 hours.
In addition to its use by the Air Force, Global Hawk has the potential to complement U.S. Navy operations. The Navy is currently procuring two Global Hawk air vehicles for demonstrations of the Global Hawk's maritime surveillance capabilities.
Northrop Grumman's Global Hawk program is based at Integrated Systems' Unmanned Systems unit in San Diego.
Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems, headquartered in El Segundo, Calif., is a premier aerospace and defense systems integration enterprise. As one of Northrop Grumman Corporation's seven sectors, it designs, develops, produces and supports network-enabled integrated systems and subsystems for U.S. government, civil and international customers. Integrated Systems delivers best-value solutions, products and services that support military missions in the areas of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; battle management command and control; and integrated strike warfare.
The United States Air Force Museum is the national museum of the Air Force and the world's largest military aviation museum. Its mission is to present the mission, history and evolving capabilities of the U.S. Air Force. Featuring more than 300 aircraft and aerospace vehicles, the museum welcomes 1.2 million visitors a year to view its 17 acres of indoor exhibit space. Featuring galleries that connect the Wright brothers era with today's stealth age, the museum employs sensory exhibits, educational programs and special events to tell the Air Force story, honor its men and women and highlight virtues such as duty, courage, sacrifice and innovation inherent in the service's tradition.
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